Ready, Steady...Rio!

Posted: Wed, 14 Sep 2016 14:14

Ready, Steady...Rio!

The 2016 Rio Paralympics will soon be taking place (7th – 18th September) when we will witness many outstanding performances and achievements by our GB Paralympians and those of other nations. The Paralympics is the pinnacle event for our elite disabled athletes and we will see them perform at the very highest level against competitors from across the world.

During this time we, along with our partners will be highlighting and promoting not only our GB athlete's achievements, but the many local opportunities there are for people with a disability to participate in these sports.

The London 2012 Paralympics showcased our most talented disabled athletes and proved that having a disability is not a barrier to taking part in sport and physical activity and Rio 2016 will be just as inspirational.

There are lots of opportunities locally to have a go at the various Paralympic sports and although not everyone will become an elite athlete, Jayant Mistry a Leicestershire Wheelchair Tennis Player, said

"Rio 2016 will be my 6th Paralympic Games. I competed in the wheelchair tennis events at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, I was the wheelchair tennis manager at London 2012 and I will be going out as a tennis coach for the Rio Games. It seems unreal to think that it all started with knocking a few tennis balls over the net at Victoria Park in Leicester…".

We have been working closely with local leisure providers and clubs to support them to deliver more inclusive opportunities within their programmes and sports.

As well as being fun to be part of sport and physical activity plays a big part in our overall health and wellbeing and for someone with a disability this can be even more beneficial.

Tags: Disability Sport, Featured, London 2012, News, Play Sport